I recently listened to a news program about farming in India. About forty years ago, the government made industrial farming cheap. Farmers were pleased with the extra big yields for the first 20 years or so. Then the boom busted. The soil could not sustain that level of growth. Now an increasing number of Indian farmers are turning to organic methods — smaller yields, but for many lifetimes.
That story summarizes what Sabbath does for me. It injects sustainability into my lifestyle. Sure, I can go hard and get very productive. All the while, something deep inside me is destroyed.
Today’s Sabbath felt rather silly. In the course of this week, it seemed unnecessary. But what about next week? Next month? Next year? What fruit will emerge 10 years from now because I practiced a sustainable lifestyle today?
Don’t tell me, Lord. I want to be surprised.
